Location: Waterville, Maine
Established: 1813
Enrollment: ~2,300
Admit Rate: ~7% (Class of 2028)
Yield Rate: 42%
Endowment: $1.2 Billion
Academic Calendar: 4-1-4 (Semester plus "Jan Plan")
School Colors: Colby Blue and Gray, #002878
School Mascot: Mules
Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: $66,600 USD (2024–25 Tuition)
Typical SAT Scores: Reading and Writing 710–760, Math 730–790
‍Motto: Lux Mentis Scientia (Knowledge is the Light of the Mind)
Notable: First all-male college in New England to accept women. It places a strong emphasis on "Jan Plan" experiential learning.

In a phrase: A rapidly rising star investing billions in local renewal and global programs.

Quick Facts Snapshot
Location: Waterville, Maine
Founded: 1813
Enrollment: ~2,300
Admit rate: 7% (Class of 2028)
Yield rate: 42%
Endowment: $1.2 Billion

2. Why This School Fits the Little Ivy Profile
• Colby has transformed itself into a top-tier institution, with its admit rate dropping from 30% to 7% over the past decade. It achieves this by making significant investments in facilities, research, and a global curriculum.

3. Selectivity & Admissions
• Approx admit rate: 7%
• Selectivity trend: Rapidly increased competitiveness; now among the most selective NESCACs.
• SAT/ACT ranges: SAT 1450–1540

4. Academic Strengths
• Signature programs: Environmental Science; Government; Artificial Intelligence (Davis Institute for AI).
• Faculty ratio: 10:1
• Key differentiator: Jan Plan. A mandatory interterm in January allows for internships, quirky courses, or study abroad without disrupting the semester.

5. Outcomes
• Salary or placement overview: Exceptionally high; reports strong early-career earnings, often in the $70k+ range, boosted by finance placements.
• Alumni influence: Strong ties to Boston finance and D.C. policy circles.
• Where grads typically go: Wall Street, research institutes (Bigelow Lab), and top law schools.

6. Campus Culture
• Traditions: Doghead. An (unofficial) tradition where students stay up all night to watch the sunrise before St. Patrick’s Day.
• Social environment: Vibrant but shifting away from hidden Greek life toward campus-sponsored events in the new downtown dorms.
• Notable athletics or arts strengths: Massive new athletic complex ($200M); Colby Museum of Art is the largest in Maine.

7. How It Compares
• [Colby vs. Bates vs. Bowdoin]
• [Colby vs. Middlebury: Rural Globalists]

8. FAQs
• What is the Davis Institute for AI?
The first cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence at a liberal arts college.
• Is Waterville safe?
‍Yes, and the college has invested millions to revitalize the downtown area with a hotel and arts center.
• Is Jan Plan required?
‍Yes, students must complete three Jan Plans to graduate.


Further Reading
Colby College – Fast Facts & History (official) / (Founded 1813, location, enrollment, mascot, colors, mission)
https://www.colby.edu/about/fast-facts/
Colby College – Institutional Research / Common Data Set / (Admit rate, yield rate, SAT ranges, student–faculty ratio)
https://www.colby.edu/offices/institutional-research/common-data-set/
Colby College – Tuition & Financial Aid (2024–25) / (Undergraduate tuition and fees)
https://www.colby.edu/admission-aid/tuition-and-aid/
Colby College – Endowment & Financial Overview / (Endowment ≈ $1.2B)
https://www.colby.edu/about/financial-information/
NCES College Navigator – Colby College Profile / (Enrollment size, admissions context, outcomes benchmarks)
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=160977